MANILA, Philippines â€“ The Department of National Defense (DND) is verifying reports that China has erected a new structure in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to conduct aerial reconnaissance.

â€œWe are going to verify this, but apparently these are old structures. So we are going to verify this just to be sure, we are going to send reconnaissance flight there,â€ DND spokesman Eduardo Batac told defense reporters in a press briefing.

The surveillance was ordered following reports the Chinese have built a lighthouse at Subi Reef, well within inside the disputed areas claimed by the Philippines, China and Vietnam.

The lighthouse was spotted during an aerial reconnaissance of the disputed area last October. The structure, built on a reef, is 20Ã—20 meters in size and is equipped with parabolic antennas and a dome.

â€œThese structures were there before the declaration of conduct of parties in the South China Sea in 2002 . . . so (these are)old structures. But in the meantime the decision or what we need (to do) is to verify this,â€ Batac explained.

The DND spokesman also said the lighthouse cannot be considered a military facility.

â€œThatâ€™s an aid to maritime navigation (but) it is also (a) means by which countries can lay claim to that kind of territories, it can be considered proof of ownership . . . but there are many who are claiming ownerships of these reefs and atolls in that area,â€ Batac said.

But if the reconnaissance does turn up evidence of new structures, Batac said the matter would be the jurisdiction of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

â€œWeâ€™ll have to coordinate with DFA because anything that would require international relationships will have to be coursed through the DFA and we cannot do any unilateral action on that,â€ Batac said.

Meanwhile, the military is denying it was the source of the photographs of the allegedly new structures, which were posted on several online new sites Wednesday.

â€œIt did not come from us, itâ€™s not from our source . . . this one did not came from us,â€ Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Ernesto Okol told defense reporters.

However, he acknowledged they conduct regular reconnaissance over the disputed island chain, which is more than 500 kilometers west of Palawan and is reputed to be rich in mineral and gas resources.

Of all the claimants to the Spratlys, the Philippines has the weakest military.

Because of the internal corruption within the government, the Philippine Armed Forces have been deprived of state of the art national defense grids and weapons. To this day, the AFP still does not have any air supremacy fighters, no new missile frigates, no anti-submarine warefare capabilities. All she has is an army that has been fighting with itself (insurgents) for the past 50 years.

If the governmente was not so corrupt, the AFP could have at least had acquired 4-5 American F-16s already. Station 1 F-16 in the north, the south, and two in the west. These could be supported by its tainer aircraft.

Right now, China could launch an air offensive and the Philippine Military could do nothing to stop it. Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayon De Oro, Tacloban, General Santos could be attacked and there would be no air protection. Let alone the navy is sparse and aging. It would be sunk by any CHinese frigate, and submarines if she ever decided to.

What the heck is the Philippine Government doing on our national defense? Where is our forward defense?!

Philippines has a population that is over 92 million. Okay. That is 3 times the population of Canada. That is almost 1/3rd the population of America. That is 9 times the population of Sweden , as well as that of Denmark.

Yet the Philippine Military is weak? With a nation with a population of over 90 million, the AFP's numbers should be swelling.

It should have an army of 250,000 (not 120,000 like it does now)It should have an air fleet of at least 10-15 American F-16s for air supremacy, air tactical supportIt should have at least 2-3 missile frigates, supported by 4-5 missile corvettes and support ships. It should also have anti-submarine warefare capabilities (considering its greatest threat, CHINA, is a Submarine Power (nuclear and standard))It should also have an advanced air defense grid platform.

Nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand have these. Why do we not have it? Are we not at par with these other countries ?

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Philippine Government! Wake Up!

You guys can give 50 million pesos to generals like Angelo Reyes upon retirement but you cant buy missile air craft and missile craft for the defense of the WHOLE country?